Instantaneous electric water heater with automatic switch



L. LUDWIG Nov. 14, 1933.

INSTANTANEOUS ELECTRIC WATER HEATER WITH AUTOMATIC SWITCH Filed May 17,1932 INVENTOR.

[- o (Jl S L uaw 7 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED STATESINSTANTANEOUS ELECTRIC WATER HEATER WITH AUTOMATIC SWITCH Louis Ludwig,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 17, 1932. Serial No. 611,826

4 Claims. (Cl. 219-39) The invention relates to electric water heatersof the type in which the water is heated as it passes through thedevice. It has for its main object to provide a device in which the flowof water will actuate a switch mechanism and close an electric circuitwhen the water is, turned on and break the circuit when the water isturned off; thus eliminating all danger of over-heating the resistanceelement and causing it to burn out.

Another object is to so construct the device that no current can becaused to how through its resistance element except when water isflowing through the heater. A further object is to provide aninstantaneous heater which will impart the maximum amount of heat to thewater for the amount of current consumed.

A still further object is to provide a heater of simple and inexpensiveconstruction, and which may be either of the removable or of thestation- 29 ary type, and which, when of the removable type may beattached in an instant to the faucet or outlet on which it'is to beused. An additional object is to provide a heater which can be readilydissembled for cleaning or repairing. I

These and various other objects and advantages will be readilyunderstood from the following description and from the accompanyingdrawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which, however,modifications may be made without departing from the scope of theappended claims. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of thepreferred embodiment,

Fig. 2 a cross-sectional side elevation of same,

Fig. 3 a cross-sectional top view taken on line 33 on Fig. 2, and

Fig. 1 a cross-sectional top View taken on line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

Referring now to all the views, simultaneously, the heater consists of acasing which is preferably made of insulating and heat resistingmaterial, such as for example porcelain. An inwardly extendingflange 11is provided at the bottom of the casing, and an outwardly extendingcollar 12 is provided at its upper end. A tubular core 13 is mouldedwith a flange 14 which is secured to the casing flange by a plurality ofbolts 15. The core is provided with a conical-shaped opening 16 at itsupper end and a helical groove on its periphery in which a coil-woundresistance element 18 is secured by means of screws 19 and 20. The lowerend of the heating element is secured under the head of screw 19 and theupper end under the head of screw 20. The location of thislast-mentioned screw is shown in Fig. 4. While I prefer to employ aresistance element of the type just described, other elements may beemployed.

The core, which is made of refractory material, is also provided with aninternal shoulder 21 on which a spider-shaped member 22 is supported.This member is made with a relatively long, vertical bearing 23. Acylinder 24, which is open at its upper end and provided with aplurality of small openings 25 at its lower end, is mounted on avertical rod 26 which is free to slide in the bearing 23. A circularmetal disc 27 is riveted on the lower end of the rod 26, and acompression spring 23 is wound on the rod between the member 22 30 and aplurality of openings 31 at its lower end, is inserted in the casing soas to cover the core 13. An electric wire 32 is passed through bushings33 and 34 inserted in the casing and the cylinder 29, respectively, andone of the con ductors 35 contained in this wire is attached under thehead of the screw 20, while the other conductor 36 is secured under thehead of a screw 3'? which is attached on the core.

When the heater is to be attached to a faucet or the like, I prefer toemploy a cap such as shown at 38, so that the device may be readilyattached or detached. This cap is preferably made of rubber and has abead 39 which fits under the collar 12 on the casing, and a tube 40which will fit the end of the nozzle.

The device works in the following manner: the hose 40 is attached to afaucet and the wire 32 to a source of electric current. As the faucet isturned on the water will flow through the cap 38 and, being interruptedby the domedroof 30, through the space 41 formed between the cylinder 29and the casing. From this pas sage the water flows through the opening31 and raises in the space 42 formed between the cylinder 29 and thecore 13. The water, as it rises above the top of the core, flows throughthe conical opening 16 and fills the cylinder 24. The weight of thewater depresses the cylinder 24 until it is restrained by the disc 27contacting with the ends of the screws 19 and 3'7.

While a small amount of water will flow through the openings 25 in thecylinder, there will always, while the faucet is turned on, besufilcient water in the cylinder to cause it to stay in its, lowerposition. After the cylinder 24 is filled the water will flow throughthe central opening in the core and out through its lower end 43. Whenthe disc 27 contacts with the screws 19 and 37, the electric current isclosed. The current then flows through conductors 36, screw disc 27,screw 19, heating element 18, screw 20 and conductor 35, or vice versa.The water is heated, as it rises in the passage 42, by coming in contactwith the heating element.

As soon as the faucet is closed and the water ceases to flow, the waterin the cylinder 24 emp ties out through the openings 25, and the spring28 lifts the cylinder and breaks the current by disconnecting the disc2'. from the screws 19 and 3'7. However, sufficient water is left in thepassages 41 and 42 to keep the heating element immersed, thuseliminating any danger of its burning out by being exposed to the air,while hot.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention overcomesone of the main defects in heaters of the type described, namely, thatof the element burning out by being exposed to the air while the currentis passing through it. It will also be seen that the means used forobtaining this result simple in construction and completely automatic inoperation. It is evident that while I have shown and described a devicesuitable for use on a faucet, the device, with a few minor changes, maybe permanently installed in a water system.

Having described my invention and its advantages, what I claim as newand wish to protcct by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric water heater of the class de scribed, a casing, awater inlet and a w t outlet, a heating element located wi 1m casing forheating the water pass, g through it, a receptacle located within said c'ng for intcrcepting a part of the water through the device, a switchfor closing and breaking the current flowing through the heatingelement, said switch actuated by the weight of the water in saidreceptacle, self emptying associ-- ated with said r ceptacle, and meansfor retaining a sufficient quantity of water in the device at all timesto keep the heating element immersed therein.

2. In an electric water heater of the class described, a casing, a waterinlet, descending and ascending water passages formed within saidcasing, a tubular water-0utlet member, a resistance element attached onsaid tubular member, a receptacle for intercepting a part of the waterpassing through the device located within said tubular member, a switchfor closing and breaking the current passing through the resistanceelement, said switch actuated by the weight of the water in saidreceptacle, and automatic means for draining all the water from saidrcceptacle when the current in the resistance element is broken.

3. In an electric water heater of the class described, a casing, a waterinlet, descending and ascending water passages formed within saidcasing, a tubular water-outlet member, a resistance element attached onsaid tubular member, a receptacle for intercepting a part of the waterpassing through the device located within said tubular member, a switchfor closing and breaking the current passing through the resistanceelement, said switch actuated by the weight of the water in saidreceptacle, automatic means for draining all the water from saidreceptacle when the current in the resistance element is broken, andmeans for attaching the device to a faucet.

l, In an electric water heater of the class described, a casing, a waterinlet, descending and ascending water passages formed within saidcasing, a tubular water-outlet member, a resistance clement attached onsaid tubular member, a receptacle for intercepting a part of the waterpassing through the device located within said tubular member, a switchfor closing and breakthe current passing through the resistance element,said switch actuated by the weight of the water in said receptacle,automatic means 1 LOUIS LUDWIG.

